Zentangle Challenge #312 - Coffee, Tea or Me

I used a splash of fuchsia ink, then blew through a straw to get my "stain" string for this week's Zentangle Challenge. (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) I have a few other stained tiles (my favourite being wine stains), so I may just continue and do more… (My apologies in advance for not commenting on posts using Flickr, Instagram, Pinterest, or several others that I can't access without an account or using a password please know that I am looking at your work and enjoying it.)

Zentangle Challenge #285 - Relax, bro.

When we tangle for ourselves, as opposed to tangling for something we are going to publish somewhere for others to see, probably, our tangling is more Zen, more relaxed… And that is the premise for this week's Diva challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) It's true for me sometimes - especially if there is a challenge or focus on a tangle I'm unfamiliar with or don't particularly like. For this tile I took one I had worked on at an outdoor music concert this summer, and really didn't like. The basic tangles I had done were only Betweed, and Molygone. I set the tile aside. (I have a stack of potential tiles to finish…) For this challenge I finished the tile by adding in a few more tangles - the first that came to mind when I looked at a spot, then shaded. I wish I had taken progress photo's: the tile I wasn't happy with, the tile before shading…) I'm happy I kept that tile, and really should go back and touch up my other unfinished, not loved tiles….

Zentangle Challenge #258 - UMT - Rautyflex by Kathrin Bendel

It's been a while since I posted for Laura's Diva Challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca), because… well, life just sometimes gets in the way, and lately I'm just not feeling inspired. This week's challenge is to use Kathrin Bendel's tangle: Rautyflex. It's a tangle that requires lots of concentration, but also has opportunity for lots of variations. I used two variations in this tile, and am quite happy with it. Thank you Laura, for making me stretch and giving the motivation to tangle!

Zendala Dare #116

I did two Zendala's for this week's Dare from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.com. Though it doesn't show, the first one was done on a regular Zendala tile, and the second on an 8.5 inch circle. I like the second better because it gave me the opportunity to showcase some tangles that work well in circular spaces. I wanted something to balance the detail of the central orbs and I think Zplode works well. I'm happy with both of these!

Zentangle Challenge #228 - Guest Blogger, Cari Sultanik: Organic Tile

This week's Zentangle Challenge is by guest blogger Cari Sultanik, and it is to do a tile using organic or natural tangles. This is what I came up with. Summer is always busy, but it's been super busy and spectacular this year! I got back from CanTangle in Regina just over a week ago, and am still buzzing from adrenalin because of meeting wonderful CZT's, the amazing workshops, and learning so much! So HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!

Zentangle Challenge #224 - Monotangle: Tipple

This week's Zentangle Challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is to do a monotangle of Tipple. Her demo tile is amazing and I was intimidated… so I decided to just get over it - keep it simple - and voila, here is my Canada Day (July 1) contribution. Happy Canada Day to everyone!

Zentangle Challenge #157 - UMT - Charlie

This weeks Zentangle Challenge from Laura at iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com is to use the Tangle: Charlie. I like this tangle - I like the boldness. I decided to pair it with other bold tangles and came up with this. I haven't used Charlie much, but am going to use it again today in my Tangle a Day Calendar. It's a fun one!

Zentangle Challenge #137 - Duotangle - Knights over Tipple

This was indeed an interesting challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca! In some ways a simple challenge - to use the two tangles Knightsbridge and Tipple. Ha - nothing is ever "simple". I tried to add some "shine" to Knightsbridge and that was not at all successful so ended up smudging it over so I'm hoping someone else has done this so I can see how it's done! I don't often add aura's, but it seems the best way to fill the empty space here. The end result, as usual, looks very different from the string and ideas I started out with, and I'm not unhappy with this though I'm looking forward to seeing what others have done to add more interest.

Zentangle Challenge #117 - New Official Tangle: Schway

It took me a long time to do this week's Zentangle Challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca! Partly, it was my birthday this week so I've been pretty busy socially, but mostly because it's 6"x6", and I took my time choosing the other tangles, and putting it all together. I did map out Schway in pencil first but was actually surprised at how little adjusting I had to do - it's a fabulous tangle! I'm really pleased with the way this ZIA turned out and am going to put it in a plain black frame. It's supposed to be cooler, and rainy off and on for the next couple of days, so I'll have a chance to view the other entries (instead of puttering in the garden). I can't wait to see what others have done! Have a good weekend.

Zendala Dare #52 (Hollibaugh)

I love this dare from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca. Every week Erin posts a blog and a template that challenges us. This week, in addition to a template that has circles, she dares us to use it and incorporate it the tangle "hollibaugh". Ok, right away I had an idea, and spent ages trying to figure out how to do it. Got the general outline done and transferred, and was happily working on it when a couple of friends arrived on their bikes with a couple of bottles of wine.... Well, by the time they left I thought better than to continue. However, it's still fairly early so I took a look at what had been submitted so far - and that is NEVER a good idea. Ok, so my original idea of making the given template "the string" wasn't so original, but they way I did was still different from anyone else's. So I decided to finish and post it - no matter how much wine I'd had. Actually, I'm pretty happy with this! Tomorrow, when I take a second look, I might be a bit embarrassed but I hope not. I have drawn out a second template and have another idea of how to tackle it, so we'll see if I have a second entry......... Thanks Erin for another great dare, and thanks to everyone for looking, and commenting if you have the time. Isn't this just the BEST way to spend time?

Zentangle Challenge #104 - String Theory - 003

This week's Zentangle Challenge (from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt@blogspot.ca) is to use the string #003 which can be found on the tanglepatterns website. I decided to oversize it (8 X 11), and initially I thought I'd keep it simple with just a few new to me tangles... well, you know how it goes. It got more complicated when I decided I wanted each section to have a connection of some sort with the one(s) beside it. I got to try 9 new to me tangles and a couple of nearly new ones. Fun! Thank you for taking the time to look, and make a comment if you feel like it. Have a good week.

Zendala Dare #42

I wanted to keep this week's Zendala Dare simple (from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca) - that is, using 2 or 3 tangles. I like this template because it can be soft or very structured, and I've copied out a couple more tiles that I might get to later in the week. Thanks again Erin, and to everyone, have a wonderful week.

Zendala

The Friday Zendala Dare has been delayed - so I opened my tin of pre-strung Zendala's and chose one - this is the result. I had fun doing it, but discovered that I really don't understand Opus and need more practice. I'm going to try to do one of these pre-strung zendala's every week - after all, that's what I bought them for, and they've been sitting for the perfect opportunity for a couple of months...

Zendala Dare #12

Thanks again Erin (www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca) for another great zendala template. I knew I wouldn't want to do just one of this design so I've put 3, plus separate parts, together as a ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art). Tangles I used: H2O Lilly, Prestwood, "C" scape, Linq, Daggerly, Echoism (I loved what you did Erin in your example, so I hope you don't mind, but I copied you...), Coil, Tipple, Golven, Hybrid, Squid, Arches, Chainlea, Pepper, and another that I think is called TH@ by Margaret Bremner. Now I want to work on this week's Zentangle Challenge, and check out all the entries for the past week for both the Dare and Challenge as I haven't had much free time to browse.... I love looking at what other people have done, and reading the comments! Such a wonderful Zentangle community!!